Through the Fire (song)

"Through the Fire"
Single by Chaka Khan
from the album I Feel for You
B-side	"I'm Every Woman", "La Flamme"
Released	1985
Format	7", 12", 12" picture disc
Recorded	1984
Genre	R&B, quiet storm, adult contemporary
Length	4:45
Label	Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	David Foster, Tom Keane, Cynthia Weil
Producer(s)	David Foster
Chaka Khan singles chronology
"This Is My Night" (1985) "Through the Fire" (1985) "Eye to Eye" (1985)

"Through the Fire" is a song from Chaka Khan's 1984 album, I Feel for You. The David Foster-produced track was the third single from the album. It reached #60 in the US and #15 on the R&B charts.^[1] and was one of the few Khan hits to cross to the Adult Contemporary chart. The music video was filmed at Los Angeles' Union Station.

Foster revealed in his 2011 PBS Concert "The Hit Man Returns" that this was the only melody that he ever wrote with someone in mind and that the working title of the piece was actually called "Chaka" because he was very confident that Khan would perform the song.^[2]

Chart positions

Chart (1985)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	60
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[3]	16
US Billboard Hot Black Singles	15

Samples

• The song was sampled by Kanye West in "Through the Wire". Shad, a Canadian rapper, mentions this song and the artist in the song "A Good Name".

Cover versions

• The song was covered by Courtney Pine, playing bass clarinet, on his 2015 album "Song (The Ballad Book)" which features Zoe Rahman on acoustic piano.
• The song was covered by Nicki French on her second album in 1997.
• Filipina R&B singer Nina covered it in 2005 for her love songs live album, Nina Live!.
• Filipina soul singer Jaya covered the song on her 2007 album Cool Change.
• Covered by Melinda Doolittle, "Through the Fire" was included as a bonus track on her 2009 album Coming Back to You.
• The song was performed by contestant Siobhan Magnus on the ninth season of American Idol.
• Spanish salsa singer La India made a cover of this song in 1997 called "Sobre el Fuego" from the album of the same name.
• Contemporary jazz saxophonist Michael Lington covered the song from his 2002 album Everything Must Change.^[4][5]
• Quiet storm singer Peabo Bryson covered it on his album Through the Fire.
• Norwegian jazz-funk singer Ole Børud and Joe Pizzulo covered it on the album Fly Away - The Songs of David Foster.^[6]
• The song was covered by American Idol's Top 8 Redux finalist Malaya Watson on "80's Week" theme night. She is the youngest person in Idol's history to make live finals; however, she was eliminated the night after she performed this song live.
• During Tawag ng Tanghalan of It's Showtime on ABS-CBN, The girl around the Philippines sang this song.
• Puerto Rican pop singer Lunna made a cover of this song in 1992 called "Por el Fuego;" it was featured on her album "Yo Que Te Adore".^[7]
• Eliane Elias included the song in her 1986 album Illusions.

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 321.
2. David, Foster (2011). The Hitman Returns: David Foster and Friends. Reprise.
3. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 135.
4. "Everything Must Change overview". Allmusic.com.
5. "Jazz - Michael Lington". Lightyear.com.
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrA8a3XcoTY

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics